Tulane running back Payten Jason is coming off an injury and hopes to contibute

Tulane running back Payten Jason took a handoff and sprinted around left end in a drill Thursday at the Westfeldt Practice Facility.

Payten Jason

His strides were smooth and fast.

"They expected me not to be able to play this year, but I surprised them, '' said Jason, who tore the patella tendon in his left knee on the last play of the Marshall game last October. "I knew I'd come back. I don't feel any lost speed.''

Jason, who played at Jesuit, carried 19 times for 85 yards as a freshman before an illegal horse-collar tackle led to the injury and ended his season.

"When they repaired it, they added a skin graft from a cadaver, '' he said of the Oct. 13 surgery.

It's not clear when, or if, Jason might be playing this season. Tulane Coach Bob Toledo said that the coaches are going to go slowly with Jason in practice, and it would be a bonus for the Green Wave if he can play this season.

Concerning how close Jason is to being at his best, Toledo said: "It's hard for me to say. He's probably 75 percent in my mind. I think he's a great player. He's got NFL-caliber ability. If he can't do it out here, it's all moot.''

If Jason can't play this season, he could be redshirted, Toledo said.

Jason said he expects to play.

"I don't even have to get up to 100 (percent), '' he said. "Honestly, no running back plays at 100. I'm very confident. I worked hard in the offseason to get back to where I was.''

POSITION CHANGE: Joe Kemp, who started last season as the first-team quarterback before being replaced by Ryan Griffin, is entering this season as a wide receiver.

"He's a big, strong, fast athlete, '' Toledo said. "He's the guy who came up with the idea.''

"I really more than anything want to win, '' Kemp said. "I'll return kickoffs, punts. I'll do anything to win. Football has always been my favorite thing to do on the planet.''

Kemp, a 6-foot-4, 211-pound junior from North Richland Hills, Texas, was lining up with the second unit. He struggled with drops during drills.

During seven-on-seven drills, he dropped a pass across the middle, and another ball went off his hands and was intercepted. In team drills, he dropped a pass to the sideline.

"Not acceptable, '' he said. "It frustrates me so much. I'm not going to make excuses. I'm confident what I can do.''

Toledo said: "It's all new. It'll take a little time.''

KICKER IMPRESSES: Cairo Santos, a freshman kicker, made an impression Thursday on Toledo.

Santos was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and attended high school in St. Augustine, Fla.

Santos is one of a handful of kickers vying to replace Ross Thevenot.

HOWDEN OUT FOR SEASON: Guard Hunter Howden, who has been hampered by concussions, won't play this season, Toledo said. "They have not cleared him, '' Toledo said. "They'll re-evaluate him in December.''

Howden played in five games and made two starts last season as a freshman.

ODDS AND ENDS: Freshman center Ian Wiggins missed practice because of a concussion suffered in a class, Toledo said. Wiggins had a bloody nose, passed out and hit his head, Toledo said. ... The Green Wave will practice in shorts, helmets and shoulder pads today and Saturday. On Monday, the team will practice for the first time in full pads. ... Rob Phillips was hired as Tulane's director of strength and conditioning, the school announced Thursday. Phillips served as the head strength and conditioning coach at Louisiana-Lafayette the past five years and spent the previous five years as an assistant coach with the Cleveland Browns.

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Bob Fortus can be reached at rfortus@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3408.